Saturday, April 19, 2003

Somaliland President Wins Election by a Whisker HARGEISA, 19 APRIL 2003(Reuters) - Somaliland's President Dahir Riyale Kahin was declared winner on Saturday of the first multi-party presidential elections in Somalia's breakaway enclave, beating his closest rival by just 80 votes.
The enclave's National Electoral Commission said Kahin received 205,595 votes, 42.08 percent of the those cast, against 205,515 votes, 42.07 percent of the total, for his main challenger, Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo.

"It's a historic success," Kahin told Reuters. "I thank the people not only for their vote, but also for holding it peacefully.

"My government will give priority to development and will seek (international) recognition."